Doll&#39;s eyes



March 30 1926- 1,578,834 A. KONOFF,

DOLL S EYES Filed April 21, 1925 any position into which they PatentedMar. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER KON OFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TOOVERLAND METAL NOVELTY PATENT OFFICE.

CO. INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DOLLS EYES Application filed. April 21, 1925. Serial- No. 24,781.

To a7l whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER KONOFF, a citizen of the United States,and resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Dolls Eyes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in dolls eyes, and particularlyto the manner of constructing and mounting the eye balls upon theirsupporting rod.

An object of the invention is to provide an eye which is of simple andinexpensive construction and which may be easily connected with its.supporting rod and which when so connected will be capable of universalrotary adjustment in order to properlv accommodate itself to the eyesocket in the dolls head.

A further and more detailed object is to provide an eye including anouter hemispherical shell, preferably of metal, and bearing theeye-picture on its outer surface. and a single attaching memberconnected between the eye shell and its carrying rod constituting thesole element of connection between said shell and rod, and further to soconnect the attaching member with the shell and rod that it will providefor both a universal rotary adjustment of the shell with respect to therod and a bodily adjustment of the eye along the length of the rod.

A still further detailed object is to so construct the parts that theeye shell will be capable of a desirably limited rotary movement uponthe attaclung member and about both horizontal and vertical axestransverse to the length of the supporting rod, and the attaching memberbeing in turn rotatably adjustable upon the supporting rod.

A further object is to so construct the parts that they will be retainedagainst likelihood of accidental displacement from are manuallyadjusted.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specifid thanthose referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed outin the course of the following description of the elements,combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of mounted atprinciples, constituting the invention, and the scope of protectioncontemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form ofembodiment of' the inven tion:-

Fig. 1 is a front. elevational view of a portion of an eye setconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sidc elevational view of the eve seen in Fig. 2', thesupporting rod being shown in transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the plane ofline IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the planeof line V'-V of F ig. 2, the attaching member being shown in full lines.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that seen in Fig. 5 but illustratingiamodified construction of the attaching member.

of the eye appearing Fig. 7 is a sectional view upon the plane of lineVII-VII of Fig. 6. and

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the appearing in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the structural partsshown therein the reference character L indicates the usual bracketmember by means of which the eye set is intended to be connected withthe inner surface of the forehead portion of a doll.

The reference character G indicates the eye structure cross, orsupporting, rod which is rotatably the lower end of the bracket plateand which carries at its opposite ends the two eyes HH. The rod G has apendant Weight carrying arm 1 by which the eyes are gravity controlledin-the usual manner.

The eyes are identical and a description of one will apply to both, asfollows:

The hemispherical shell 2 has a notch 3 in one side therof through whichprojects the supporting rod G.

The attaching member 4 is arranged at the rear of the shell 2 andconsists of what will be termed a main flat plate portion 5, .a pair ofspring arms 6-6and a stem portion 7 The main plate portion 5 extendsvertically across the rear open side of the shell 2. The spring arms 66are formed at the upper and lower ends of this plate and curve forwardlyin approximate conformity to the semispherical curvature of the interiorsurface of the shell. They are so made however that except for thepresence of the shell they would spread apart, and thus they exert acontinual friction pressure against the inner surface of the shell. a

Suitable inturnedflanges as 8-8 are provided at the rear edge of theshell in position to engage over the adjacent rear surface portions ofthe plate 5 for maintaining the spring arms in proper cooperative enagethe plate 5 at its opposite ends is punchedup wardly to a suitableextent so as to provide aligned pivot portions 9 for direct engagementagainst the flanges 8 to thereby facilitate accurate pivotal adjustmentof the eye shell with respect to the supporting rod, it

being noted that the pivot points 9 are substantially in a commonvertical plane with theacenter of the su porting rod in order that noappreciable ily displacement of the eyev shell will accompany rotarvadjustment of the eye shell when the shell is being fitted to itscooperative position within a dolls head; as will be readily understoodby those skilled in the use of devices of this kind. r i

In addition'to adjustment of the eye shell 1 about a vertical axistransverse to the length of the supporting red, as just described, the vstructure also permits of a rotary adjustment of the eye shell-aboutjahorizontal axis transverse to the'supporting rod, that is that e theshell may be easilyrotated about such axis with the pivot points 9meanwhile slidin'g'along the under or forward surface of the flanges 8.Both of these adjustments will be properly fric-tionally resisted bypressure of the spring arms 6 against the inner surface of the shell andby the resultant pressure of the pivotparts or points 9 against theflanges .8, and this frictional resistance will be ample to maintain theshell in any position to which it is manually adjusted.

he stem portion 7 of the attaching member projects laterally from themain plate portion 5 and consists of a tubular sleeve adaptedtotelescope over the end of the supporting rod, the plate portion 5being preferably formed with a groove as 10 therein so asto provide forunobstructed longitu-' dinal movement of the sle'eve along thesupporting rod.

The stem or sleeve is formed from sheet metal bent into tubular shapebut the edges are preferably not. fixedly connected together, they mayor may not have engagement with each other as suggested in my co-pendingapplication Serial #K-1049. The sleeve is normally of less internaldiameter than the external diameter of the supporting rod and musttherefore be expanded when being forced onto the rod. Sufficientfriction is thus generated to retain the sleeve inany position to whichit is adjusted either longitudinally or rotatably upon the rod.

. The several parts of the attaching member 4 may be separately formedand connected together if desired but they are preferably all formed asa stamping from a single piece of sheet metal as illustrated in thedrawings.

The opening 3 in the eye shell is sufficient ly large to accommodate allnecessary adjustments of the eye shell without any inter-- ference fromthe supporting rod, and it will be seen that by the structure describedthe eye shell is capable of manual rotary adjustment in all directionswith respect to its supporting rod and about the spherical center of theeye shell, and that by reason of the telescopic engagement of the stem.portion 7 upon the supporting rod the eye may be readily adjusted as anentity longitudinally of the rod.

Referring now to the modification disclosed in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it willbe seen that the structure shown therein diflers" from the structure inthe previous figures only as .regards the construction of the attachingmember. I main plate as 11, corresponding to the plate 5, is somewhatlarger thansaid plate 5 and is provided with additional spring arms1212, four such arms being illustrated.

These arms curve forwardly and conform 105 to and engage against theinner surface of the shell in the same manner and for the: same purposeas do the arms 6 of the previous structure, and the plate --11 isprovided with raised pivot portions or points 13 thereon for engagingthe flanges 8 in thesame manner as already described.

Oppositely pressed portions 14 and 15 of the plate 11 provide a socketdirectly upon said plate into which the end of the supporting rod G isinserted. The socket socket are suitably resilient so that when therodis forced into the socket a sufiicient In Figs. 6, 7 and 8the isnormally slightly smaller than the diameterof the rod, and the partsforming theof the rod or longitudinally D in the accompanying drawings,shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described mv inventiongvhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An eye structure comprising 'asemispherical eye shell and an attaching member by which to connect saidshell with the usual supporting rod, said attaching member comprisingone portion to adjustably connect with the supporting rod and anotherportion providing spring fingers extending into the hollow of the eyeshell and having frictional engagement against the inner surface of saidshell to thereby frictionally adjustably support the eye shell and meanswhereby said spring fingers are held in co-operative contact with saidshell.

2. An eye structure comprising a semispherical eye shell and anattaching member by which to connect said shell with the usualsupporting rod, and said attaching member comprising a plate extendingacross the rear open side of the eye shell, means provided by said plateto frietionally adjustably engage the supporting rod affording rotatableand longitudinal adjustment of the plate with respect to the rod, aplurality of spring fingers formed upon said plate engaging the eyeshell to frictionally adjustably support the eye shell, and meansprovided upon the eye shell and engaging Purtions of the plate to holdthe spring fingers in co-operative engagement with the eye shell.

3. An eye structure comprising a semispherical eye shell and anattaching member by which to connect said shell with the usualsupporting rod, and said attaching member comprising a plate extendingacross ,the rear open side of the eye shell, means provided by saidplate to frictionally adjustably engage the supporting rod, said platehaving oppositely disposed extensions curved into conformity with theinner surface of the eye shell and constituting a pair of spring fingersengaging said inner surface of the eye shell to frictionally adjustablysupport the eye shell, and flanges provided upon the eye shell to retainthe attaching member in co-operative position.

4:. An eye structure comprising a semispherical e ve shell and anattaching memher by which to connect said shell with the usualsupporting rod, and said attaching member comprising a plate extendingacross" the rear open side of the .eye shell, means provided by saidplate to frictionally adjustably engage the supporting rod, and saidplate havmg extensions at its opposite ends curved into conformity withthe inner surface of the eye shell and constituting a pair of spring finers en aging said inner surf ce of the eye shell t d. frictienally adjustably support the eye shell. together with flanges provided upon theeye shell and engaging said plate to retain the plate in cooperativeposltion.

An eye structure comprising a semispherical eye shell and an attachingmemher by which to connect said shell with the usual supporting rod, theeye shell being open at its rear side and having diametrically disposedinturned flanges at its rear edge adapted to stand one vertically belowand one vertica ly above the supporting rod, the attaching membercomprising a plate extending across the rear open side of the eye shellhaving pivotal engagement with said flanges on a vertical axis, springfingers provided upon said plate engaging the shell to hold the plate inpivotal engagement with the flanges and to frictionallv resist therotary adjustment of the shell oh said vertical axis and also to providerotary frictionally resisted adjustment of the shell with respect to theplate about a horizontal axis, together with means by which the plate isadapted for adjustable connection with .the supporting rod.

6. An eye structure comprising a semispherical eye shell and anattaching memher by which to connect said shell with the usualsupporting rod, the eye. shell being open at its rear side and havingdiametrically disposed inturned flanges at its rear edge adapted tostand one vertically below and one vertically above the supporting rod,the attaching member. comprising a plate extending across the rear openside of the eye shell having pivotal engagement with said flanges on avertical axis, spring fingers provided upon said plate engaging theshell to hold the plate in pivotal engagement with the flanges and tofrict-ionally resist the rotary adjustment of the shell on said verticalaxis and also to provide rotary frictionally resisted adjustment of theshell with respect to the plate about a horizontal axis, and said platehaving oppositely disposed parts providing a spring socket by which itis adapted for adjustable connection with the supporting rod.

7. An eye structure comprising a semispherical eye shell and anattaching member by which to connect said shell with the usualsupporting rod, the eye shell being open at its rear side and havingdiamet rically disposed inturned flanges at its rear edge adapted tostand one vertically below and one verticaliy above the supporting rod,the attaching member comprising a plate extending across the rear openside of the eye shell having pivotal engagement with said flanges on avertical axis, spring fingers provided upon said plate engaging theshell to hold the plate in pivotal engagement with the flanges and tofrictionally resist the rotary adjustment of the shell on said verticalaxis and also to provide rotary frictionally resisted adjustment of theshell with respect to the plate about a horizontal axis, and said platehaving integral parts thereof bent to provide a spring socket by whichit is adapted for adjustable connection-with the supporting rod.

8. An eye structure comprising a shell, and an attaching member by whichto connect said shell with the usual supporting rod, means by which theshell is pivotally connected with said attaching member, and said lastmentioned means comprising a spring finger extension of the attachingmember arranged to engage the shell to frictionally resist rotarymovement of the shell with respect to the attaching member.

9. An'eye structure comprising a shell, and an attaching member .bywhich to connect said shell with the usual supporting rod, means bywhich the shell is pivotally connected with said attaching member, toafford rotary adjustment of the shell about axes at right angles to eachother, and Sam last mentioned means comprising a spring finger extensionof the attaching member arranged to engage the shell to frictionallyresist rotary movement of the shell with respect to the attachingmember, about both of said axes. V 4

10. An 'eye structure comprising an eye shell having a spherical innersurface portion, an attaching member by which to adjustably connect saideye shell with the usual supporting rod, and said attaching membercomprising a resiliently compressible part arranged within the eye shelland compressed by engagement with the spherical inner surface portion ofsaid shell to therehv enable adjustment of the shell upon the attachingmember and tofrictionally resist and maintain such adjustment, the shellcomprising means to retain said compressible part within the shell, andsaid attaching member also having another portion by which it may beconnected with th supporting rod. In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

ALEXANDER KONOFF.

